Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha on Sunday issued his first video statement after quitting the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and joining the BJP, alleging that AAP had turned into a “toxic” political organisation controlled by a few “corrupt and compromised” individuals. Raghav Chadha said the party no longer reflected the principles on which it was founded and claimed internal dissent had been systematically stifled.

In his statement, Raghav Chadha said he had spent 15 years building AAP but could no longer continue in what he described as a hostile political environment. He said the party had stopped functioning as a platform for public service and was now being run for personal gain by a select group of leaders.

Toxic Work Charge

Raghav Chadha alleged that AAP’s internal work culture had become deeply restrictive, with leaders being prevented from speaking in Parliament and discouraged from functioning independently. He said the work environment had become so toxic that meaningful political engagement was no longer possible.

According to Raghav Chadha, the party leadership had increasingly sidelined those who raised concerns or sought reform. He said the atmosphere within the organisation had become comparable to a workplace where employees were routinely silenced and their work suppressed.

Three Options Before Him

Explaining his decision, Raghav Chadha said he had weighed three options before leaving AAP. The first was to quit politics altogether. The second was to remain in the party and attempt internal reform. The third was to continue in public life through another political platform.

He said he chose the third option and joined the BJP to continue what he called “positive politics”. Raghav Chadha maintained that his move was not personal but political, and aimed at continuing public service with greater institutional support.

Seven MPs Back Move

Raghav Chadha also defended the collective exit of seven Rajya Sabha MPs from AAP, arguing that the scale of the split reflected deeper problems within the party. He said one or two leaders could be dismissed as dissenters, but seven MPs leaving together could not be ignored.

The Rajya Sabha has since approved the merger of seven former AAP MPs with the BJP. With this, Raghav Chadha, Ashok Mittal, Vikramjit Sahney, Harbhajan Singh, Sandeep Pathak, Swati Maliwal and Rajinder Gupta now stand officially recognised as BJP members in the Upper House. The development has raised the BJP’s tally in the Rajya Sabha to 113.

AAP Pushes Back

AAP has strongly contested the exits and the merger process. Party leaders have accused the MPs of political betrayal and indicated they would challenge the move through parliamentary procedure.

Senior AAP leader Sanjay Singh has said the party will seek disqualification proceedings by writing to the Rajya Sabha Chairman, arguing that only three MPs had formally joined the BJP at the initial stage. In Punjab, protests have been reported outside the homes of some of the MPs who left AAP, with demonstrators accusing them of betraying the party mandate.

Political Fallout Widens

The fallout has triggered a wider political confrontation between AAP and BJP, especially in Punjab and Delhi, where the party had built much of its support base. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has also sought time from President Droupadi Murmu over the matter and is expected to raise concerns linked to defections and political accountability.

The split marks one of the biggest internal ruptures in AAP since its formation and is likely to reshape its parliamentary strength and political messaging ahead of key electoral contests.

What Happens Next

The next phase will likely centre on legal and procedural scrutiny of the Rajya Sabha merger, along with AAP’s political response on the ground. Party leaders are expected to intensify outreach to contain organisational damage, while the BJP is likely to project the move as a sign of growing national support.

For Raghav Chadha, the immediate challenge will be to justify the shift politically and retain credibility among voters who backed him as an AAP leader.